Plain Earthtongue
Geoglossum umbratile
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Plain Earthtongue faces severe decline due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and grassland conversion, which eliminates the nutrient-poor, unimproved grasslands essential for its survival. The species is particularly vulnerable to nitrogen deposition from atmospheric pollution, which alters soil chemistry and favors competitive grasses over the specialized fungal communities this species depends upon. Climate change compounds these pressures by shifting precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that affect the delicate ecological balance required for fruiting body formation.
Habitat
Plain Earthtongue occurs in nutrient-poor, unimproved grasslands, particularly old pastures, chalk downs, and acid grasslands with low nitrogen levels. The species requires specific soil conditions and mycorrhizal associations that develop only in long-established, extensively managed grassland ecosystems.
Other threatened species in Geoglossaceae
Threatened in Åland Islands
Frequently asked questions
Why is Plain Earthtongue classified as Endangered?
Where does Plain Earthtongue live?
What are the main threats to Plain Earthtongue?
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